Deliberate compromise.
WHEN IT IS DEFENSIBLE
A genuine deadline where being late costs more Validating whether something is wanted before investing An experiment that may be discarded A temporary measure with a defined end
WHAT MAKES IT DEFENSIBLE
Being deliberate, recorded, and planned for repayment.
WHAT MAKES IT RECKLESS
Being unrecorded Having no plan Becoming permanent by default
WHAT TO RECORD WHEN TAKING IT ON
What was compromised Why What it will cost When it will be addressed
WHERE TO RECORD IT
In the code, and in the debt register.
WHY IN THE CODE
So whoever encounters it understands it was deliberate.
WHAT TO AVOID
Temporary solutions with no expiry.
WHY
Nothing is as permanent as a temporary solution.
WHAT TO NEVER COMPROMISE
Security Data integrity Anything affecting money
WHY
Those are not debt. They are defects.
WHAT TO ASK
If we never address this, what happens?
